In the heart of the city, there was a florist's shop, its dim yellow light visible through the fine rain.The somewhat plump shopkeeper leaned on the counter, looking bored, apparently waiting for someone.She glanced at the time.It was nearly eleven, surely the major client wouldn't come now?Just as she considered closing up for the night, the chime of the doorbell sounded.The shopkeeper straightened up immediately.At the entrance stood a man in a black suit, tall, with a dampness about him, walking in."Mr. Solomon, I thought you weren't coming!" The shopkeeper greeted him with a cheerful smile."I got held up on a business trip." Darwin spoke casually, "The flowers?""I've kept them for you!" The shopkeeper quickly brought out the flowers. "I still suggest that I deliver them to your place regularly, to save you the trouble.""No need." he refused as always and then left.After he departed, the shopkeeper belatedly realized that the gentleman hadn't carried an umbrella.She hes
The conference room slowly emptied as people trickled out."Mr. Solomon is clearly playing favorites with Lilian!" hissed a few who had voiced their concerns earlier."Not necessarily." said Henry, who had been mostly silent, smiling at several people nearby."Henry, you've been with Mr. Solomon for over seven years. Do you have a different opinion about what just happened?" Henry replied with a chuckle, "Mr. Solomon is inscrutable; even I can't guess his intentions. But, do any of you really think Miss Robbins can compete with Chelsea?"The group exchanged glances uncertainly.Not waiting for a response, Henry grabbed his things and left.Miss Chelsea's style was decisive and efficient, swift like a cutting blade.Many seasoned veterans on Wall Street couldn't best her, and Lilian... He could admit that she had skills, but Chelsea was out of her league. Even compared to the former Secretary Woods, she fell short.She was all about opportunism.Had it not been for Mr. Solomon's name
It was like the moment Mr. Solomon first saw Secretary Woods and couldn't take his eyes off her, keeping her by his side as a substitute for Miss Robbins.Thinking about what Secretary Woods went through all those years.Henry didn't dwell on it and made up his mind.One such incident was enough.Best not to bring harm to another innocent stranger.However, what Henry didn't know was that fate always has its own plans.Lilian chased after Darwin, "Darwin, come with me to the art exhibition this weekend, please?""I'm busy, find someone else." Darwin said, his tone indifferent."Darwin, can't we even be friends now?" Lilian clutched at his sleeve.Darwin frowned at her."That day is the day I was forced into marriage, I don't want to spend it alone." Lilian said, her eyes reddening.Darwin always felt a deep-seated guilt about it.After a moment of silence, he said, "Just this once."Lilian immediately smiled through her tears, "I knew I could count on you! You're the best!"As long as
Fiona followed the florist's gesture and gazed at the bunches of flowers, pausing briefly.Besides the champagne roses, there were also sunflowers and purple daisies, the varieties she often ordered from this store.The florist seemed to truly appreciate the person who ordered these flowers.Before Fiona could collect her thoughts, she heard the florist saying, "There's this gentleman who comes in twice a week to buy flowers for his wife. In addition to the seasonal blooms, he always picks up sunflowers and purple daisies, probably his wife's favorites."Buying them for his wife, huh? Fiona mused."He must be very fond of his wife." Fiona responded, then pointed to a display behind the florist, "I'll take the sunflowers.""You have good taste. Our sunflowers here, if not the best in the whole Bay City, are certainly the best in the central district!"While chatting, the florist skillfully wrapped Fiona's flowers."Are these for someone special?" the florist asked."You could say that,
Fiona couldn't help laughing and crying at the sight.She put down her flowers and woke up Ashton."Back already?" yawned Ashton."Let's each take one and get them to bed." Fiona suggested.Ashton nodded, still groggy, picked up Charles, who was closest to her, and carried him upstairs.Charles half-woke, blurred-eyed, saw his mom waving at him, and let his head drop back to sleep.Fiona, with a smile, scooped up Chicago, who was sleeping like a little piglet, and couldn't resist giving her cute cheek a kiss.Then she too climbed the stairs.Fiona gently kissed each of them goodnight, whispered softly that she loved them, and quietly left the room."How's it going? Is the project coming together?" Ashton yawned."More or less." nodded Fiona."I've nearly cleared up my company's affairs, and I can finally rest for a few days." said Ashton, visibly relaxing.Fiona congratulated her, then abruptly changed the subject, "By the way, I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned resting. A
Darwin had always disliked crowded places.After entering, he glanced at the crowd and frowned subconsciously.At that moment, behind the scenes, Fiona planned to take Chicago and Charles away."The art show has already started... all the artists are here. It wouldn't look good without Chicago... what if someone wants to buy Chicago's paintings?" the art show manager said, clearly troubled."Mommy, I don't want to go!" Chicago clung to Fiona's fingers, looking pitiful."Wait just a minute, Chicago sweetheart, let me talk to your mom!" Ashton took Fiona's arm and led her into an office.Before Ashton could ask, she spoke first, "Darwin and Lilian have arrived."Ashton paused for a moment. Since Darwin had already met Chicago, he didn't see it as a big deal. "What are you afraid of? Although Chicago looks like both you and him, there are many people in the world who resemble one another. Why let that bitch couple spoil Chicago's good mood?"Today, Chicago was truly happy. The two painti
"Uncle, I have to work now." Chicago looked at Darwin and, plucking a small flower from her braid, took Darwin's large hand and placed the flower in his palm, "This is a little flower for you."Darwin's heart was suddenly filled with an indescribable sentiment.After offering the flower, Chicago ran off toward the manager.Wendy looked gratefully at Darwin, "Thank you, Sir!""Don't get left behind by your boss." Darwin said as he stood up, immediately putting on a stern expression.Wendy, intimidated by him, quickly rushed to follow.Darwin watched Chicago's small figure vanishing into the crowd, then looked down at the flower in his hand."I remember now, isn't this the little girl from the hospital that day?" Lilian's voice broke Darwin's train of thought.Darwin closed his hand around the flower and looked back at the two paintings.With so many questioning her talent, would anyone buy her paintings?If no one bought them, she would surely be heartbroken."Let's go to the auction."
With a humph, Ashton accepted the chocolate.Her phone had buzzed in her pocket hundreds of times.Shee ignored every single call.Fiona couldn't help but glance towards the corner where Darwin was.It was pitch dark over there, unclear what the people were up to.But, based on the silhouettes, it seemed like Darwin had been on the stands since the Chicago footage started.He couldn't have discovered something, could he?Indeed, Darwin had been watching Chicago.He was surprised at the richness of emotion in such a young child.Understanding romance, capable of conveying it through art.Understanding devotion, also displayed in the paintings.She knew how to express love.Love for her great-grandmother, her mother, her brother...Her parents had raised her well.The artists had finished presenting, now came the auction.Up till now, everything had gone normally, almost all the artists' works had been bought.There wasn't much competition, after three or four bids over the starting pri